Point-to-point
A budding trainer gets his name on the board, while one jockey has luck back on his side to score a treble
Shelfield Park, Hornby Castle, Dingley and Cothelstone
Croome and West Warwickshire, Shelfield Park, Warks
THE head lad for Alastair Ralph Racing, Callum Griffiths, scored his first-ever training win when 12-year-old Master Sunrise landed the hunt members’ under James King for owner Mervyn Jones.
Callum took on the former National Hunt horse two months
ago after Alastair retired him from running under Rules. Mervyn wanted to see him continue to run at a lower level, so Callum is pointing him.
“It’s the first winner I’ve had in points, so it was good to get my name on the board,” said Callum, whose ultimate aim is to become a trainer. “I’ve got a couple of boxes outside the yard and keep a couple of pointers which I ride in my break. It’s working out well.”
Callum employs the help of one of the yard riders to assist him ride out.
“I’d struggle to ride two on my own in my break, so one of the girls rides upside me on my other horse,” he said. “He’ll stay pointing the rest of the season and hopefully we’ll have some fun.”
Andrew Pennock landed the Print Concern restricted when eight-year-old Presenting gelding Bold Gesture won under Sam Lee for owner George Braithwaite.
“The going was firmer than we would have liked but we thought we might get away with it and luckily we did,” said Andrew.
“Sam did say he didn’t really let himself down on it, but it was 2m4f which is a strength of his. Although he won his maiden lefthanded, I do feel he is a pound or two better right-handed so it ticked the boxes.”
Andrew bought the gelding at the Ascot sales in 2019.
“He’s a big horse and jumps exceptionally well, so he’d go back under Rules quite easily and that’s possibly where his future will lie,” he said. “He’s a horse we haven’t seen the best of yet.”